William t



(No Model.) I

W. T. HARRIS.

METALLIC PACKING.

PatentedAplnB, 189()n IHIAZ'SSES.

UNITED; STATES- 4PATENT rrIcE.

VILLIAM T. HARRIS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'lO THE HARRIS SUPPLY COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

METALLIC PACKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,978, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed October 10, 1889. Serial No. 326,601. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. HARRIs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Packing, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention consists in an improved construction of that metallic packing for the piston-rods of engines and other places where a steam-tight joint is required, which is operated by pressure of the steam itself to grip the rod and tight-en the joint without the use of any spring-power, and which when the pressure of the steam is turned off will relax its hold upon the rod, and thus relieve the parts from all unnecessary wear and friction, as Will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section through a stuffing-box and one of my packing-rings, showing its position on a piston-rod; and Fig. 2, a perspective view showing one end of said packing-ring as it appears when made up and the parts composing the other end distributed for the purpose of show ing their form and arrangement.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the pistoirrod; B, the stuffing-box; O, the outside ring or casing within which the several parts are contained; D, a central ring forming the central portion of the packing; E, a Babbittmetal ring mounted in each end 0f said central ring, and F a ring forming the cap or head of the packing.

The piston-rod A and stufling-box B are shown in section, illustrating the parts adjacent to the packing-ring only, the gland B of said stufflngbox being formed with an in ner face ground perfectly true and smooth.

The outside ring C consists of awide band of metal (preferably Babbitt metal) divided on opposite sides by long slip-joints, as shown, said band being of a width substantially equal to the length which it is desired to have the packing-ring, and has two narrow hoops or rings c, of spring metal, open on one side and arranged to break joints withl each other and the divisions in the main ring C, thus serving to support it firmly.

The central ring D is divided on opposite sides into two parts and is mounted in the center of the casing A. It is formed with an internal flange d, which is divided at points a short distance to one side of the divisions in the main portion of the ring, so that the two parts break joints when put together. The interior surface of this ring from each edge to said interior flange is preferably inclined, as shown, for a purpose which will be presently described.

The Babbitt-metal rings E are mounted to rest against the interior ilange of the central ring D and project from each side thereof, each ring being divided and the divisions being preferably long kfeather-edged joints, which permit the ends of the two parts to lap over each other when in'place and slide upon each other during the operation of the device. These rings are slightly thicker than the width of the flange on which they rest, so that they furnish the entire bearing-surface,

which rests upon thepiston-rod, for apurpose which is well known.

The end caps or rings F rest upon the endsof the central ring D and project beyond the edge of the Babbitt-metal rings, where they are provided with internal flanges f, which cover the end of said Babbitt-metal rings and hold themin place. Said caps are divided in the same manner as is the central ring D, and the internal face thereof is similarly inclined. The face of the ring which rests against the inner face of the gland B is ground perfectly true and smooth, so that the joint between these two parts will be steam-tight when they are forced together.

The operation of my said invention is as follows: The packing-ring is placed upon the piston-rod within the stuffing-box in a loose condition, the tendency of the outside bands c being to spring outward slightly when the steam-pressure is olf and permit the parts to relax; but the steam being turned on a por- Ition of it enters the stufiingbox fromA the engine along the sides of the pistoirrod and into the space between the packingsring and the casing of said stuffing-box, the pressure of which is thus exerted upon the outside of the IOO packinglring,which, by reason of its construction, is adapted to be contracted and expanded, and is thus forced inward to grip the pistonrod tightly and prevent any steam from passing along with it and escaping, the same force operating by means of the inclined shoulders in the rings D and F to elongate the packing and force the outer face ot' the ring F tightly against the gland l and form a steam-tight joint. The parts of the rings f rom which the whole packing ring is made up are arranged, as shown, with all the joints in different positions, so that they all break, and, the parts being loose and easy to spread and the main ring or easing being surrounded by spring-bands, a packing-ring is thus provided, which is readily compressed by the action of the steam itself and which will readily relax its grip on the piston-rod when the pressure of the steam is removed.

Having thus fully described my said invelr tion, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Apaeking-ring forstuHing-boxes, consisting of an expansible easing embraced by a band or bands for holding it together, a sectional inside packing-ring formed with its face to rest upon the piston-rod and with tapered rear side, and other divided packingrings interposed between the outside casing and said inside packing-rings, formed with tapered inner faces which rest lupon the tapered rear side in said inside ring, substantially as set forth.

2. A packing-ring forstuffingboxes, consisting of an expansible casing formed divided and with overlapping edges, with a slip-joint between them, a band or bands surrounding said casing, an interior packing-ring arranged to rest upon the piston-rod and formed with a tapered rear side, and other packing-rings mounted in said easing and arranged to seeurc said interior packing-ring in position, substantially as set forth.

A packing-ring consisting of an eiipansin ble casing containingsectional packing-rings having tapered slip-joints between them and their sections and a smooth face resting against the gland, a space being left for live steam to surround said easing, whereby by the action of said steam said packing is coinpressed to grip the piston and elongated to form a steam-tight jointbetween the packing and gland,substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 2d day of October, A. D. 1859.

WILLIAM T. HARRIS. [n s] Witnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, J. WALSH.

Correctionin Letters Patent No. 424,978.\

It is hereby'certied that the assignee, The Harris Supply Company, in Letters Patent No. 424,978, granted April 8, 1890, upon the application of William T. Harris, of Indianapolis, Indiana, for an improvement in Metallic Packing, should' have been described and specified as The Harris Supply Company, of Louisville, Kentucky, a corpoyatt'on organized ander the laws of the State of Kentacm and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 22d day of April, A. D. 1890.

[SEAL] oYRUs BUssEY,

Assistant Secretary ofthe Interim, Gounteisigned l C. E. MITCHELL,

Commissioner of Patents. 

